Inside the hall, Anna, having received no answer, wiped away her tears. Her gaze gradually sharpened, and her expression became solemn and grave.
Shiraishi Yoshijo could leave, and he had to leave. That had been the ultimate purpose of her scheme from the very beginning.
An emperor who had abandoned the centralized unification most beneficial to Peach Country for his own selfish desires, even dispersing his authority far and wide—such an emperor, such a Shiraishi Yoshijo, had become an obstacle to the nation's development.
From the moment Nianze had been named heir, she and many others had begun plotting to force Shiraishi Yoshijo away. As for killing Shiraishi Yoshijo, she had never entertained such a thought, nor did she believe anyone could kill him.
Everything she had done was for her child, and the reason she could not leave with Shiraishi Yoshijo was also because of her child.
Nianze could not even keep his younger brothers and sisters in line, let alone the old foxes within the country. If Shiraishi Yoshijo left and she went with him, what would become of Nianze?
Shiraishi Yoshijo could ruthlessly leave because he had too many children. If Nianze proved unworthy, another child would surely take his place. They were all his blood, after all; the palm and back of the hand were both flesh to him. In his eyes, it made no difference who ruled the realm.
But Anna had only this one son.
As his mother, how could she stand by and watch Nianze be humiliated, manipulated, or even lose his life?
So she could not leave.
Not only could she not leave, she also had to clear every obstacle from Nianze's path. And the first obstacle was her man—the emperor of this country.
But no one could kill the emperor, and